Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Halloween

Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of All Hallows'
Evening), also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is
a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the
Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance
of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the
dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.

It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions
originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic
festival Samhain; that such festivals may have had pagan roots; and that
Samhain itself was Christianized as Halloween by the early Church.

In many parts of the world, the Christian religious
observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and
lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although elsewhere
it is a more commercial and secular celebration. Some Christians historically
abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve, a tradition reflected in the eating of
certain vegetarian foods on this vigil day, including apples, potato pancakes,
and soul cakes.

About Me

Daan Kolthoff is a writer, living between the hills of Wellington, New Zealand and, when not writing, meditating or walking the hills, he is usually researching, reading about or ordering berets from around the world.